The skipper, who led his side to their first series defeat at home since 2004, admitted the paceman proved unplayable.

“Anderson bowled really well throughout the series on wickets where there wasn’t much help for the fast bowlers,” he said. “That was crucial. He tested the batsmen all the time and kept them guessing. The major difference between the two sides was Anderson.”

The bowler capped his fine performance with a deserved man-of-the-match award. But afterwards he insisted it was good to show that there were rewards for hard-working swing bowlers as well as the spinners.

Anderson bowled really well throughout the series on wickets where there wasn’t much help for the fast bowlers

MS Dhoni

“When we came here people said it would be all about spinners taking wickets but we’ve shown we could do a job as well,” he said.

“Reverse swing played a key part in this series win but we have worked hard practising it in the nets and we executed our plans really well.” The ongoing fate of Anderson’s first-innings victim Sachin Tendulkar, whom the England man removed for the ninth time in his career, remains in doubt. Tendulkar was off the field for all but the first hour yesterday after falling awkwardly on his shoulder while fielding. All series, speculation has mounted that a farewell was on its way.

But Dhoni insisted India’s No4 had given him no indication he would be going. Answering a question about whether Tendulkar would carry on, he said: “I hope so.”

Dhoni also insisted there was talent coming through the ranks. “We are going through a tough time, but if you don’t give youngsters chances, how do you know whether they are good enough or not? It’s going to be difficult to replace the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar or VVS Laxman, but you have to back young players and give them a chance to prove themselves.

“Until then, the seniors will have to take extra responsibility before the juniors start making runs and taking wickets.”